Direction signaling system



Jan. 18, 1944.

R. H. 'HlLL 'DIRECTION SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 2o; 1941' 3sheets-sneek 1 Maur/wv Wiz/urla..

1M O O Ill lll. O. .a n, u o. l: .1v o? n HIJ J. d f a ,a wa wwwDIRECTION SIGNALING- SAYSTEM Filed Feb. 20( 1941 3y Sheets-Shale?, 2

' 1462 74g Erf/26,'

.n Mil! man rfa/y BY l ATTORNEW Jan. 18, R. H, H|| L DIRECTION SIGNALINGSYSTEM Filed Feb. 20, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet4 3 Patented Jan. 18, 1944UNITED STATES PATENT oFFjlcE DIRECTION SIGNALING SYSTEM Robert H. Hill,Anderson, Ind., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich.,a corporation of Delaware Application February 20, 1941, Serial No.379,767

3 Claims. (Cl. 177-337) This invention relates to direction signals forautomotive vehicles, for example, a signaling system employing a pair ofsignal lamps at the front of the car and a pair of signal lamps at therear. The lamps are caused to burn by moving a manually operated switchhandle in one direction or the other from neutral depending on thedirection of the turn of the vehicle. The burning of the lamps on theright side of the car will indicate a right turn; and the burning of thelamps on the left side will indicate a left turn. In such a system,means may be provided whereby the application of brakes to theautomobile is indicated by the burning of both the rear signal lamps.

It is an object of the present invention to pro vide the electricalmeans for retaining the manually operated tum-indicating control-switchin either of its operating positions, said electrical means beingoperative so long as the vehicle is being steered in that direction.But, when the steerng wheel is turned in the direction to cause thevehicle to make the opposite turn,'the electrical means which holdstheswitch is immediately rendered inoperative so that the switch willreturn to neutral position. More specifical- 1y, the present inventionprovides that, when the signal control switch is moving into positionfor retaining a right turn, it will be automatically held in thatposition by an electromagnet which remains energized so long as thesteering wheel has been turned to give a, right turn and is not turnedin the reverse direction beyond a predetermined amount. When thesteering wheel is turned toward the left beyond a predetermined amount,the electromagnetic means is immediately deenergized so that the signalcontrolling switch may be returned by a spring to neutral position. Asimilar control of the switch is obtained when moving it into positionfor indicating a left turn. Y

While, in the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the switch controlis applied to the system referred to in the rst paragraph, it will beunderstood that the switch control can be applied to any system whichuses a manually op erated control switch above referred to.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figures 1 to 7 are views of the turn signal control switch provided withan electromagnetic means for retaining the switch in either of itscontrol positions s o long as the electromagnetv is energized.` v

Figure 1 is a side view partly in sect1on of the main control switch. Inthis View the switch support and switch housing are shown in section.Figure 2 is an end view of the switch looking in the direction of arrow2 of Figure 1, the switch housing being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line of 3-'3 f Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the switch taken in the direction of thearrow 5 of Figure 3, the switch housing being omitted.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the movable switch contact assembly.

Figures 8 and 9 are views of a switch which is responsive to the turningof the steering .wheel beyond a predetermined amount in a reverseldirection for disablingY the electromagnetic means of the switch shownin the Figures 1 to 7.

Figure 8, is a side View of the switch in cooperative relation with arotating shaft operated by thesteering gear mechanism. The switchsupport and the switch housing are shown in section.

Figure 9 is a view in the direction of the arrow 9 of Figure 8,the'switch housing being shown in section.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are similar wiring` diagrams of a turn 'signalcontrol circuit employing the switches shown in Figures 1 to 9.

Figure 10 shows the control circuit in neutral position.

Figure 11 shows the signaling for a left turn.

Figure 12 shows the circuit in condition for signaling a right turn. f

Referring to Figures 1 to 7, a housing 20v which may be of any suitableshape adapted to be clamped upon the automobile steering column isprovided with a hole 2l bushing 22 having a shoulder 23 abutting theinside of the housing and held there by a nut 24. Bushing 23 is securedby riveting to a metal plate 25 which supports a U shape magnetizableframe 26 which supports a non-conducting plate" 21. The frame 26 isattached and?! by riveting of tangs 28 vided by the plate 26 and whichextend through suitable openings in plates 25 and 21 and also throughwashers 29 (Figure 2). The plates 25 to theI plates 25 which are pro-Vcircuit in condition when for receiving a threaded and 21 support anon-conducting plate 3i] (Figures 2 and 5) having tangs 3l which extendthrough suitable openings in plates 25 and 21.

Magnetizable frame 25 supports a magnetizable core 32 surrounded by amagnet coil 33. The

upper end or pole of core 32 is senil-cylindrical as indicated at 34.The pole 34 and poles 35 and 3B provided by frame 26 cooperate with anarmature 31 having ears 38 and 39 by means of which it is mounted uponshafts 40 and 4| journalled, respectively in the bushing 2| and abushing 42 carried by plate 21. Shaft 4U supports a handle 43 by whichthe arma-ture 31 is turned in either direction to cause it to be broughtinto close proximity either to the polev 3 5 or tothe pole 35. Thearmature 31 is normally held in neutral position shown in Figure 3 by anon-magnetizable spring 44 having its centrallportion securedby rivetingto the central portion of the armature 31 and having end portions 45 and45 received, respectively, by holes provided in the pole portions 35 and33 of frame 26. Thus, rotationfof the armature 31 in either directionfrom horizontal is opposed by spring 44.

Armature 31 carries a non-conducting plate 50 retained on shoulders slof armature 31 by the bending of ears 52 'of the armature. Insulatedplate 50 provides a support for a number of switch contacts andconnecting straps, namely: contacts 6| and B5' connected by strap 11|,contacts 62, 63, 61 and G8 connected by strap 1I, and contacts 64 and 66connected by strap 12 connected on the side of the plate 50 remote fromstraps 1|3 and 1 Non-conducting plate 3|) supports movable contactbuttons 8| to 38 inclusive, engageable, re". spectively, with contacts6| to 6B inclusive carried by plate 5i). Each one of these contacts ismovable relative to the plate 30 and is guided thereby byproviding ahole in plate 30 to receive each one of these contacts. These contactsare resiliently mounted, respectively, upon flexible spring blades 8|ato 88a inclusive. These blades are secured at their fixed portions tothe plate 30 and to conducting terminal clips. Specifically, blades Slaand 35a are integral and are electrically connected with a clip 9|!joined by a wire 9| with a terminal clip H35 on the lower edge of plate3|) as viewed in Figure 5. Blades 82a and 86a are integral and areelectrically connected with a clip S23-connected by a wire 34 with aterminal |02. The blades 83a and 81a are separate and are connected,respectively with clips 95 and 96,. The blades 84a and 88a are integraland are connected electrically with a clip 91 connected by wire 9B witha, terminal clip |04'.

Clips |02, |04 and |05 are located in a. row along one edge of plate 30together with clips ||l| and |513. Clip ||l|v is used for makingconnection with a signal flasher switch |1| (Figure l) and is connectedby wire Illia with strap 1| on plate 50 (Figure '1) Terminal |33 is usedfor making connection with a stop light switch |80 (Figure 10) and isconnected by wire |3a with strap 12 on plate 5l?. The wire 10a isattached to the strap 10 `on plate 50. When contact 5| is caused toengage contact 8| responsive to movement of plate 50 (Figure 6) relativeto plate 30, Contact 8| is ,Caused to engage contact |05 carried onspring blade fastened to plate 33r and to a4 terminal |01. Similarlywhen contact G5 on plate 5l! (Figure 7) is caused to engage contact 85on plate 3l! (Figure 5), contact 85 engages also a Contact |08 carriedby spring blade |09 fixed to the plate 30 and to a terminal clip H0.

Armature 31 is provided with downwardly extending ears (Figure 3)attached by rivets ||2 to a non-conducting plate ||3 supporting on itsback face an arcuate strap H4 connecting three contacts H5, H6 and ll'lwhich normally engage contact buttons H511, lla, ||1a, respectively,mounted on spring blades H51), HG1) and ||1b, respectively, secured,respectively to terminals |32, |(3 and |04. When the lever 43 is movedto turn the shaft 40 and the armature 31 in a clockwise direction asviewed in Figure 3, the following pairs of contacts will be engaged:65-85, Eli-36, (i1-t1, 63-83, {i5-|38; and contacts H5, IIE and H1 willbe moved out of engagement with their respective contact buttons I|5a,lita and lila. Movement of armature 31 in a counterclockwise directionwill cause the following pairs of contacts to engage: (il-8|, |33-32,(i3- 83, (i4-64, and itl-|05; and contacts I|5, H5 and l i1 will beagain out of engagement with their respective contact buttons ||'5a,||5a and l |1a. Whenever the armature is so moved, it will be held inthat position due to the energization of magnet coil 33 in a manner tobe described later. Wfhen this magnet coil is deenergized, the armature31 will return to neutral position under the action of spring 46.

The means for eiecting deenergization of coil 33 comprises the switchshown in Figuresa and 9; A frame |25, which may bea part of the steeringshaft housing, supports a bracket |2| to which is attached anon-conducting plate |22 which supports a magnet frame |23 attached byrivets |24 to plate |22 and to bracket l2 l. These rivets also secure aterminal plate |25 located between plate |22 and magnet frame |23 andinsulated fromy these parts. Terminal |25 is connected with thenon-grounded end of magnet coil |25, the other end being grounded upon acore |21 around which the magnet coil |25 is wound. Core |21 issupported by magnet frame |23 which is also ihsulated from ground andfrom the terminal |25. Therefore frame |23 may serve as a nongroundedconductor. Frame |23 provides a pivot |39 upon which a magnetizablearmature |3|l is mounted for movement in directions toward or away fromthe pole |21 and for movement in a direction across the face of pole|21. A spring |32 connecting an ear |33 of frame |23 withr an ear |34 ofthe armature |3| normally holds the armature in the position |3|a(Figure 8) away from the pole face |21. Armature |3| is held in anormally centered position by leaf springs |35 and |36 supported, resectively, by ears |31 and |38 provided by frame |23. Armature |3|carries contacts |4| and |42 adapted, respectively, to engage contacts|43 and |44 supported by terminals |45 and |45, respectively, insulatedfrom each other and from ground by mounting them uponthe insulatingplate |22. Armature |3| carries a non-conducting button |50 forengagement with a disc or collar member provided by a shaftvllit whichis rotated when the steering wheel is turned. A resistance element |41is connected between armature |3| and ground as shown in Figure 10. Asshown in Figure 8, riesistance |41 is connected by screw |4`|a with aclip |4112 attached to frame |23, thus making an electrical connectionbetween one end of the resistance |41 and the armature |3|. The lowerend of the resistance |41 (as viewed in Figure 8) is connected byv screw|43 with an ear |49 integral with the bracket |2I, thus providing aconnection between ground (the frame of the automobile) and one end ofthis resistance.

Referring to Figure 10 which shows the turn signal system innon-operating position, the right front signal lightv |6| is connectedby wire |62 with terminal 96. The left front signal lamp |63 isconnected by wire |64 with terminal 95. The ri-ght rear signal lamp |65is connected by wire |66 with terminal |04. The left rear signal lamp|61 is connected by wire |68 with terminal |02. Terminal is connectedwith battery |60 and with a flasher switch |1.| which controlsintermittent current flow from the battery |60 to the terminal 0| withwhich the flasher |1| is connected by wire |12. Whenever the asher |1|operates to connect terminal 0| with battery |60, a flasher indicatorlamp |13 burns. Lamp |13 is connected between flasher |6| and ground. Astop light switch |80 is connected between terminals |03 and |05 inorder that lamps |65 and |61 may burn to indicate that' the brakes havebeen applied, such indication being possible only when the signal systemis not being used to indicate a turn in either direction.

Wire a connected with strap 10 (Figure '1) is connected by Wires 10b and10c, respectively, with the non-grounded end of magnet coil 33 (of theswitch of Figures 1 to '1) and with terminal |25 (of the switch ofFigures 8 and 9). Terminal |01 (Figure 5) is connected by wire |0111with terminal |45 (Figure 9). Terminal ||0 is connected by wire Ina withterminal |46.

When the system is in the condition shown in Figure 10, in which theturn signal switch of Figures l to 8 is neutral position, whenever thestop light switch |80 is closed, the rear indicating lamps |65 and |61will be connected with the battery |60 through the following circuits:terminal |05, switch |80, terminal |03, wire ||6c, contact blade ||6b,contact ||6 connected with strap I4 which is connected with contacts ||5and ||1. Contact ||5 is connected with lamp |61 through contact ||5a andterminal |02. Contact ||1a is connected by Wire ||1c, terminal |04 andwire |56 with lamp |65.

Figure 11 shows the system in condition for signaling a left hand turn.The armature 31 has been rotated counterclockwise as indicated byarrowheads in Figure 10 in order to effeet the engagement of thefollowing groups of contacts: 84-64, 83--63, 82-62, 8|-6|-|05. At thistime, contacts |I5, 6, ||1 will be separated from contacts ll5a, ||6aand ||1a. The left front and rear signal lamps |63 and |61 will burnintermittently to give a flashing signal, this circuit being indicatedin heavy black lines in Figure l1. At the same time, the magnet coils 33and |26 are energized as indicated by the circuit shown in heavy dashlines. The energizaton of magnet 33 will cause armature 31 to bemaintained in such position as to connect contacts 6|, 8| and |05. Theenergization of magnet coil |26 causes armature |21 (Figure 8) to movetoward the left to urge button |50 to engage collar |5I. When the shaft|52 is turned as a result of turning the steering wheel to make aleft-hand turn, the armature |3| will be moved by the shaft |52 in suchdirection as to make contact with the stationary contact |44. In thearrangement of parts disclosed in Figures 8 and 9 the shaft |52 isrotated counterclockwise as indicated by arrow |52- I when the steeringwheel is turned to make a left turn. This causes amature contact |42 toengage contact |44 which merely acts as a stop to limit further movementof contact |42 from right toward left (Figure 9) or up (Figure 11). Whenthe steering wheel is turned in the opposite direction beyond apredetermined amount aswhen straightening up the front wheels of thecar, the armature |3| will be rotated in the opposite direction to causeit to move into the position |3|a1 in which it enga-gescontact |45(Figure 11) thereby establishing a by-pass around the magnet coils 33and |26 to ground. This by-pass includes resistance |41 as 'indicated bythe heavy'dotted line in Figure 11. Coils 33 and |26 having been shortedout, armatures 31 and |3| are spring -returned to the normal positionsshown in Figure l0'.

Should the brake be operated while a left turn is being indicated theright rear signal |65 is caused to burn steadily, being supplied withcurrent from battery |60, through terminal |05, stop light switch |60,terminal |03, wire |03a, strap 12 on plate 50, contact 64, contactbutton 84, wire 200, contact button 88, wire S8, terminal |04, and wire|66.

When indicating that a right turn is to be made, the operator turns thehandle 43 to move the armature 31 (Figure 3) clockwise and to moveswitch parts in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrowheads |16in Figure l0 thereby causing the engagement of the following groups ofcontacts: 68-88, 61-81, 66-86, 65- B5-IOB. At the same time, contacts||5, ||6 and H1 will be separated from contacts ||5a, ||6a and ||1a. Theturning of armature 31 clockwise will cause the right front and rightrear signal lamps |6| and |65 to be connected with the battery |60 andilasher |1| through the circuit shown in heavy black lines. At the sametime, the magnet coils 33 and |26 will be energized through the circuitshown in heavy dash lines. Armature 31 will, therefore, be held in thisposition so long as coil 33 is energized. The energization of coil |26causes armature |3| to be vattracted and rotation of shaft |52 in theclockwise direction as indicated by arrow |521 (Figure 9) as a result ofturning the steering wheel indicating a right turn, will cause armature|3| to be rotated by shaft |52 in a direction from left toward right(Figure 9) thereby causing armature contact |4| to engage contact |43.This position of armature |3| is indicated in full lines in Figure 12.When straightening up the front wheels on coming out of aright-hand-turn, the shaft |52 will be rotated counterclockwise beyond apredetermined amount thereby causing armature |3| to move into position|3|y (Figure 12) thereby establishing a by-pass indicated in dot-linesaround the coils 33 and |26. Coils 33 and |26 having been shorted out,armatures 31 and |3| will return to normal position and the signal lampswill cease to burn.

Should the brake be operatedwhile a right turn is being indicated theleft rear signal |61 is caused to burn steadily, being supplied withcurrent from battery |60 through terminal |05, stop light switch |80,terminal |03, wire |03a, strap 12, contact 66, contact button 86, wire94, terminal |02, and wire |68.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed,constitute a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

I claim:

l. In a direction signal system for vehicles the combination of aplurality of electrically operated front and rear signals, a directionsignal circuit including a source of current, a flasher, a

manually operable direction signal switch having a right turn positionin which current is supplied to the right turnsignals and a left turnposition in which current is supplied to the left turn signals and anintermediate o position, means yieldingly urging the switch toward offposition, a holding circuit for said switch including said source, meansfor holding the switch in turnindioating position, circuit closing meansactuated by moving said switch to turn-indicating position, and meansfor deenergizing said circuit to release said holding means and permitsaid switch to return to oi position comprising means adapted to bemoved into operative connection with the steering mechanism, and meansactuated by movement of said last-named means in response to movement ofthe steering mechanism in reverse direction adapted to deenergize saidholding circuit, and a stop signal circuit including said source, saidrear signals, a stop signal switch and switch means adapted to supplycurrent from said battery to .both of said rear signals when thedirection signal switch is in ofi position and the stop signal switch isclosed, said switch means being adapted to be actuated by movement ofthe direction signal switch to indicating position to supply current tothe rear signal on the side away from the turn when the direction signalswitch is in direction indicating position and the stop signal switch isclosed.

2. In a direction signal circuit, the combination of a pair of signals,a direction signal circuit including a source of current, an operatorcontrolled direction signal switch having a right turn position in whichcurrent is supplied to the right. turn signals, a left turn position inwhich current is supplied to the left turn signals and an intermediateoff position, means for yieldingly urging the switch toward oil?position, a holding circuit for such switch including said source,electromagnetic means for holding the switch in turn-indicatingposition, and circuit closing means actuated by moving said switch toturn indicating position, and means for deenergizing said holdingcircuit to release said electromagnetic holding means and permit saidswitch to return to oi position comprising a low resistance circuit inparallel with said electromagnetic holding means, and means operated byreverse rotation of the steering mechanism after making the turn forclosing said parallel circuit, and a stop signal circuit including saidsource, said signals, a stop signal switch, and switch means adapted tosupply current from said .battery to said rear signals when thedirection signal switch is in off position and the stop signal switch isclosed, said switch means being adapted to be actuated by movement ofthe direction signal switch to direction indicating position to supplyvcurrent to the rear signal on the side only away from the turn when thedirection signal switch is in direction indicating position and the stopsignal switch is closed. y

3. In a direction signal circuit, the combination of a pair of signals,a direction signal circuit including a source of current, aninterrupter, an operator controlled direction signal switch having aright turn position in which current is supplied intermittently to theright turn signals, a left turn position in which current is suppliedintermittently to the left turn signals and an intermediate oi position,means for yieldingly urging the switch toward ofi position, a holdingcircuit for such switch including said source, electromagnetic means forholding the switch in turn-indicating position, and circuit closingmeans actuated by moving said switch to turn indicating position, andmeans for deenergizing said holding circuit to release saidelectromagnetic holding means and permit said switch to return to offposition comprising a low resistance circuit in parallel with saidelectromagnetic holding means, and means operated by reverse rotation ofthe steering mechanism after making the turn for closingr said parallelcircuit, and a stop signal circuit including said source, said signals,a stop signal switch, and switch means adapted to supply current fromsaid battery to said signals when the direction signal switch is in oli"position and the stop signal switch is closed, said switch means beingadapted to be actuated by movement of the direction signal switch todirection indicating position to supply current to the signal on theside only away from the turn when the direction signal switch is indirection indicating position and the stop signal switch is closed.

ROBERT H. HILL.

